Re: Agreement between current status and retrospective data for prevalence and duration of exclusive breast feeding from low‐ and middle‐income countries surveys: Methodological issues

AbstractObjectiveDespite numerous global initiatives on breast-feeding, trend data show exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) rates have stagnated over the last two decades. The purpose of the present systematic review was to determine barriers to exclusive breast-feeding in twenty-five low- and middle-income countries and discuss implications for programmes.DesignA search of Scopus, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsychINFO was conducted to retrieve studies from January 2000 to October 2015. Using inclusion criteria, we selected both qualitative and quantitative studies that described barriers to EBF.SettingLow- and middle-income countries.SubjectsFollowing application of systematic review criteria, forty-eight articles from fourteen countries were included in the review.ResultsSixteen barriers to EBF were identified in the review. There is moderate evidence of a negative association between maternal employment and EBF practices. Studies that examined EBF barriers at childbirth and the initial 24 h post-delivery found strong evidence that caesarean section can impede EBF. There is moderate evidence for early initiation of breast-feeding and likelihood of practising EBF. Breast-feeding problems were commonly reported from cross-sectional or observational studies. Counselling on EBF and the presence of family and/or community support have demonstrated improvements in EBF.ConclusionsImproving the counselling skills of health workers to address breast-feeding problems and increasing community support for breast-feeding are critical components of infant and young child feeding programming, which will aid in attaining the 2025 World Health Assembly EBF targets. Legislation and regulations on marketing of breast-milk substitutes, paid maternity leave and breast-feeding breaks for working mothers require attention in low- and middle-income countries.

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Influenza vaccine programs for children in low- and middle-income countries: current status and way forward

Expert Review of Vaccines ◽

10.1080/14760584.2019.1635462 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 711-724 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Justin R Ortiz ◽

Kathleen M Neuzil

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Current Status ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Consumption of breast milk, formula and other non-human milk by children aged under 2 years: analysis of eighty-six low- and middle-income countries

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020004061 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Paulo AR Neves ◽

Aluísio JD Barros ◽

Phillip Baker ◽

Ellen Piwoz ◽

Thiago M Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Milk ◽

Human Milk ◽

Breast Feeding ◽

Milk Formula ◽

Milk Consumption ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Country Level ◽

Low And Middle Income ◽

Economic Inequalities

Abstract Objective: To investigate the prevalence and socio-economic inequalities in breast milk, breast milk substitutes (BMS) and other non-human milk consumption, by children under 2 years in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Design: We analysed the prevalence of continued breast-feeding at 1 and 2 years and frequency of formula and other non-human milk consumption by age in months. Indicators were estimated through 24-h dietary recall. Absolute and relative wealth indicators were used to describe within- and between-country socio-economic inequalities. Setting: Nationally representative surveys from 2010 onwards from eighty-six LMIC. Participants: 394 977 children aged under 2 years. Results: Breast-feeding declined sharply as children became older in all LMIC, especially in upper-middle-income countries. BMS consumption peaked at 6 months of age in low/lower-middle-income countries and at around 12 months in upper-middle-income countries. Irrespective of country, BMS consumption was higher in children from wealthier families, and breast-feeding in children from poorer families. Multilevel linear regression analysis showed that BMS consumption was positively associated with absolute income, and breast-feeding negatively associated. Findings for other non-human milk consumption were less straightforward. Unmeasured factors at country level explained a substantial proportion of overall variability in BMS consumption and breast-feeding. Conclusions: Breast-feeding falls sharply as children become older, especially in wealthier families in upper-middle-income countries; this same group also consumes more BMS at any age. Country-level factors play an important role in explaining BMS consumption by all family wealth groups, suggesting that BMS marketing at national level might be partly responsible for the observed differences.

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Foreword: Health Economic Evaluations in Low- and Middle-income Countries: Methodological Issues and Challenges for Priority Setting

Health Economics ◽

10.1002/hec.3319 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Catherine Pitt ◽

Anna Vassall ◽

Yot Teerawattananon ◽

Ulla K. Griffiths ◽

Lorna Guinness ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Economic ◽

Priority Setting ◽

Economic Evaluations ◽

Methodological Issues ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

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A current status of teleophthalmology in low- and middle-income countries: literature review

Journal of Global Health Science ◽

10.35500/jghs.2019.1.e41 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sangchul Yoon ◽

Holden Yoon Seung Kim ◽

Jaewon Kim ◽

Sohyun Kim ◽

Kyoung Yul Seo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Current Status ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

A Current ◽

Low And Middle Income

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How consistent are associations between stunting and child development? Evidence from a meta-analysis of associations between stunting and multidimensional child development in fifteen low- and middle-income countries

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001500227x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (8) ◽

pp. 1339-1347 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Ann C Miller ◽

Megan B Murray ◽

Dana R Thomson ◽

Mary Catherine Arbour

Keyword(s):

Child Development ◽

Breast Feeding ◽

Maternal Education ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Middle Income ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Supportive Parenting ◽

Developmental Domains ◽

Low And Middle Income

AbstractObjectiveDespite documented associations between stunting and cognitive development, few population-level studies have measured both indicators in individual children or assessed stunting’s associations with other developmental domains.DesignMeta-analysis using publicly available data from fifteen Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS-4) to assess the association between stunting and development, controlling for maternal education, family wealth, books in the home, developmentally supportive parenting and sex of the child, stratified by country prevalence of breast-feeding (‘low BF’<90 %, ‘high BF’ ≥90 %). Ten-item Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI) scores assessed physical, learning, literacy/numeracy and socio-emotional developmental domains. Children on track in three or four domains were considered ‘on-track’ overall.SettingFifteen low- and middle-income countries.SubjectsPublically available data from 58 513 children aged 36–59 months.ResultsSevere stunting (height-for-age Z-score <−3) was negatively associated with on-track development (OR=0·75; 95 % CI 0·67, 0·83). Any stunting (Z-score <−2) was negatively associated with on-track development in countries with high BF prevalence (OR=0·82; 95 % CI 0·75, 0·89). Severe and any stunting were negatively associated with physical development (OR=0·77; 95 % CI 0·66, 0·89 and OR=0·82; 95 % CI 0·74, 0·91, respectively) and literacy/numeracy development in high BF countries (OR=0·45; 95 % CI 0·38, 0·53 and OR=0·59, 95 % CI 0·51, 0·68, respectively), but not low BF countries (OR=0·93; 95 % CI 0·70, 1·23 and OR=0·95, 95 % CI 0·79, 1·12, respectively). Any stunting was negatively associated with learning (OR=0·79; 95 % CI 0·72, 0·88). There was no clear association between stunting and socio-emotional development.ConclusionsStunting is associated with many but not all developmental domains across a diversity of countries and cultures. However, associations varied by country breast-feeding prevalence and developmental domain.

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Collaborations in gynecologic oncology education and research in low- and middle- income countries: Current status, barriers and opportunities

Gynecologic Oncology Reports ◽

10.1016/j.gore.2018.05.005 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 65-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

L. Chuang ◽

J. Berek ◽

T. Randall ◽

M. McCormack ◽

K. Schmeler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gynecologic Oncology ◽

Current Status ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Oncology Education ◽

Barriers And Opportunities ◽

Low And Middle Income

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End-of-Life Care in Latin America

Journal of Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/jgo.2016.005579 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 261-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Enrique Soto-Perez-de-Celis ◽

Yanin Chavarri-Guerra ◽

Tania Pastrana ◽

Rossana Ruiz-Mendoza ◽

Alexandra Bukowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Latin America ◽

End Of Life ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Current Status ◽

Life Care ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Care Plans ◽

Low And Middle Income

Cancer has become a global pandemic with disproportionately higher mortality rates in low- and middle- income countries, where a large fraction of patients present in advanced stages and in need of end-of-life care. Globally, the number of adults needing end-of-life care is greater than 19 million, and up to 78% of these patients are living in low- and middle- income countries. In the Americas alone, more than one million people are in need of end-of-life care, placing an enormous burden on local health systems, which are often unprepared to meet the challenge presented by this complex patient population. In Latin America, cancer care is characterized by the presence of vast inequalities between and within countries, and the provision of end-of-life care is no exception. Disparities in access to advanced care planning, with a lack of provision of adequate palliative care and pain medication, are common in the region. These shortcomings are related in large part to inadequate or inappropriate legislation, lack of comprehensive national palliative care plans, insufficient infrastructure, lack of opportunities for clinical training, unreliable reporting of data, and cultural barriers. This report reviews the current status of end-of-life care in Latin America, focusing on identifying existing deficiencies and providing a framework for improvement.

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